APD | The Success of the First Commercial Flight of C919 Hailed as “Milestone” for China

By APD writer Hannah

On May 28, 2023, China Eastern Airlines flight MU9191, operated by China's homegrown large aircraft C919, took off from Shanghai Hongqiao Airport and landed smoothly at Beijing Capital Airport, completing its first commercial flight. China's homegrown large aircraft C919 has successfully completed its first commercial flight, attracting global attention. A number of foreign media spoke highly of it.

Reuters reported that the success of the first commercial flight of the C919 is a "milestone" event. CNN believed that the C919 will become a direct competitor to the Airbus A320 and Boeing B737.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the first commercial flight of the C919 means that Boeing and Airbus have been challenged in the Chinese market. China hopes the C919 will break the long-standing monopoly of Airbus and Boeing in world aviation manufacturing.

The C919 aircraft, the product of the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), is self developed by China in accordance with the international civil aviation regulations and with independent intellectual property rights. After years of testing, the C919 made its maiden flight in 2017 and has since made several test flights. China Eastern Airlines ordered five of the aircraft in March 2021.

According to market forecasts by COMAC and Boeing, China’s demand for narrow-body aircraft like the C919 will be about 300 a year over the next 20 years. If the C919 can reach one-third of the domestic market share in the future, China's large aircraft industry chain is expected to usher in rapid development.

At the same time, COMAC is also working with Russia to develop the CR929 wide-body aircraft. Analysts said the C919 is of strategic significance and will bring new opportunities to China's aviation manufacturing industry.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)